Pharmaboy
Headphoneus Supremus
Anyone here have an amp they can recommend in the sub $500 range that gives the level of bass power and detail comparable to the Bryston? I have the Cypher Labs Algorhythm Solo -DB and am getting a pair of HD650s. I demoed them on the Bryston and they sounded perfect for what I'm looking for, but my budget for the amp is really $400ish at the most. I've heard the Maverick D1 before and loved it, but it was plugged into a Schiit Yygrdrasil and I have no idea if my little CLAS DAC will allow the Maverick to perform at that level.
Just seeing this now, 3+ months after you wrote it. I've never heard the Bryston, but I have heard some other good HP amps. Assuming you need single-ended amplification (in your price range, that's just about all there is), 2 candidates jump out at me:
1. Audio GD C-2 (headphone amp/pre-amp). I own 2 other Audio GD products, the NOS 19 DAC and NFB 15.32 3-in-1 unit, and am extremely impressed with both. The headphone amp in the 15.32 is very good-sounding and strong for such an inexpensive unit. For those reasons, I'd bet the A.GD HP amp is aces. I know some others on Head-Fi who own & love it. List on the C-2 is $450 + shipping [http://www.audio-gd.com/Pro/Headphoneamp/C22015/C22015EN.htm]
2. Lake People G-109A (straight headphone amp): I own this and can attest that it is, for the price, extremely strong & good sounding. I use it nearly every day. I like it so much that I'm strongly tempted to upgrade to other classic Violectric products--the V200 HP amp, much praised here; or 1 of the 2 HP amp/preamp offerings (V220 S.E. or V181 balanced/S.E.)--all way more money than than the 109-A, though, which I got for ~$430.
The G-109A has been discontinued, unfortunately--but the nearly identical G-109S model currently lists for ~$615, and there's a 15% winter discount offered Violectric USA [http://violectric-usa.com/headphone-amplifiers/g109-s]